Tuesday, April 11, 2017

At the age of eight, I learned to swim at a Boys’ Club in
Hollywood. My instructor, Ron Friscia, continued to be my mentor for several
years. At sixteen, I took a class with the Red Cross to be certified as a WSI
(Water Safety Instructor.) With this credential, I could secure gainful
employment as a teacher, lifeguard, or coach. It seemed like a dream, to spend
my days around a pool. Or a beach. And legions of pretty girls in skimpy suits.
And get paid for it! What more could a young man ask for?

But then I did my research, and a hard dose of reality hit me: The career path
for a WSI is very uncertain. The pay is lousy, and most jobs are part-time and
seasonal. Beach duty pays more, and Baywatch
made it look easy, glamorous, and sexy. But the work is grueling, and brings
with it an elevated risk of skin cancer. Any long-term advancement would likely
require extensive travel or even outright relocation.

Wednesday, April 5, 2017

Last year, I attended sixteen writers’ events. After six
years as a literary agent, this is my all-time high. Some were across town (Los
Angeles), while others were across the country (Kansas City). Two weeks ago I was in New York City, and soon I will be in Orange County.

I’ve come to expect at least one strange conversation with a
writer in attendance, at each event. His language might be subtle or explicit,
but one way or another, he accuses me of a crime. Not necessarily because of
anything I’ve actually done, but because he has heard a horror story or three
about agents. Surely we’re all the same, right?

About Me

AAR-member agent.
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I was born in 1962 in an old Spanish colony on the coast of California. They called it "The Village of Our Lady the Queen of the Angels," in honor of Mary the mother of Jesus. Never heard of it? Oh, silly me. Like most people, you probably know it by its abbreviated name in Spanish: Los Angeles.
I grew up somewhere between the gleaming glass towers of Bunker Hill and the bright lights of Hollywood. I was a storyteller almost from birth; poems, articles, business letters, whatever. But like almost all writers, I kept a day job; in-between gigs I found gainful employment as a clerk typist, vitamin buyer, waiter, fundraiser, prep cook, gardener, lifeguard, bookkeeper, grocery checker, printer's apprentice, and meat cutter.
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In time I had a couple of books published. One thing led to another, I edited books for others and managed a writers’ conference, making many valuable contacts along the way. As an agent I made my first sale in only five months; so I think I will stick with this for a while.Swimming, gardening, and cooking keep my hands busy in-between.